Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् ।
यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥५॥
anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ
yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ
Word for word (synonyms)
- anta-kāle
- at the end of life
- ca
- also
- mām
- unto Me
- eva
- certainly
- smaran
- remembering
- muktvā
- quitting
- kalevaram
- the body
- yaḥ
- he who
- prayāti
- goes
- saḥ
- he
- mad-bhāvam
- My nature
- yati
- achieves
- na
- not
- asti
- there is
- atra
- here
- saṁśayaḥ
- doubt
Translation
And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Purport
In this verse the importance of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is stressed. Anyone who quits his body in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is at once transferred to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord. The word smaran (remembering) is important. Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa is not possible for the impure soul who has not practiced Kṛṣṇa consciousness in devotional service. To remember Kṛṣṇa one should chant the mahāmantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, incessantly, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, being more tolerant than the tree, humbler than the grass and offering all respect to others without requiring respect in return. In such a way one will be able to depart from the body successfully remembering Kṛṣṇa and so attain the supreme goal.
What this verse teaches
The study note for this verse is in editorial review.
- Gita for Life
- Death and loss
In thematic compilations 4
- Whoever quits his body remembering Kṛṣṇa alone at once attains His abode. (8.5 anta-kāle ca mām eva...)
- Thoughts at the time of death determine the future birth (8.5 anta-kāle ca mām eva... 8.6 yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ...)
- Whatever one thinks at time of death one will attain that state in the next life (8.5 anta-kāle ca mām eva...)
- Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa takes one to Kṛṣṇa (8.5 anta-kāle ca mām eva...)
Articles on this verse 1
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.